The Jikji Culture Festival in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, centers on the Cheongju Early Printing Museum and Cheongju Arts Center. As of the 2026 edition it ran three days, Friday September 4 to Sunday September 6, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., with free entry. For families it’s more than a stage show: kids can try metal-type casting, a Jikji escape room, VR experiences, hanji paper making, handkerchief printing and a quiz show.
Why Cheongju Hosts a Jikji Festival
Jikji (full title “Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo Jikji Simche Yojeol”) was printed with movable metal type at Heungdeoksa Temple in Cheongju in 1377. UNESCO describes it as the oldest extant book printed with movable metal type. That’s what makes the Jikji Culture Festival special: it happens right next to the temple site and the printing museum. Memorizing “Goryeo metal type” from a textbook is nothing like seeing type and trying the printing process.
Activities to Try First
With elementary-schoolers, a good order is escape room, then metal type and VR, then crafts, then the evening program. The standout was the escape game “Time Travel to 1377: Recover Jikji” in the museum’s exhibition halls, free with advance online booking in 2026, as was singing-bowl meditation. There were also Eastern and Western metal-type casting demonstrations, VR casting, hanji making with a paper master, ink-painting crafts and handkerchief printing. Choose one memorable experience and one craft kids can take home.
Jikji Golden Bell Quiz
On Saturday afternoon in 2026, the Jikji Golden Bell quiz took place in the Arts Center’s main hall for up to 300 elementary students, first come, first served. Studying Jikji a little beforehand, then seeing real metal type before the quiz, makes for a great history lesson.
Stay Into the Evening
The Jikji Culture Festival is better after dark. In 2026 the opening night had the UNESCO Jikji Prize ceremony, an opening show and a laser-fireworks display; Saturday and Sunday brought evening healing concerts with popular Korean acts. Don’t miss the Heungdeoksa site at night, when the main hall is lit up for a light exhibition.
A One-Day Saturday Plan
If you only have one day, choose Saturday. Arrive 10–11 a.m., see the museum and casting demonstration, pick two or three activities around lunch, join or watch the 4 p.m. Golden Bell, eat at the food trucks on the car-free street, then catch the 7:30 p.m. concert and the night lights. If you’re not doing booked programs, don’t rush kids to stick to a timetable.
Parking
In 2026 seven temporary lots were listed, including the Arts Center, baseball stadium, Seowon-gu Office and the sports complex. School and agency lots, such as Heungdeok Elementary, opened only from Friday evening, so check opening times before setting them as your destination.
Nearby: MMCA Cheongju and Culture Factory
If you add one stop, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Cheongju at the Culture Factory, a converted tobacco plant about 2 km away, is the easiest. Its visible-storage concept is unlike a regular gallery.
A Break for Energetic Kids
After too many exhibits, Munam Ecological Park offers wide lawns and a giant slide. With an overnight stay, add Cheongju Zoo the next day, or Suamgol’s hillside cafés and city views for parents.
Good to Know
- Entry: free; some crafts are paid, and the escape room and meditation were free with advance booking in 2026.
- Best for kids: escape room, VR casting, casting demonstrations, hanji making and handkerchief printing.
- Best day: Saturday, for both activities and an evening concert.
Why It’s Worth Visiting
The Jikji Culture Festival gives kids a real reason to care about history: they see the 1377 story, then make something with their own hands. Hanji, metal type and an escape room by day, temple lights and concerts by night make a full family day. The 2026 edition also linked this ancient record with AI and VR content, a fitting twist for a festival about a printing revolution.
Dates, programs and prices in this guide are as of the 2026 edition. Check the official website for next year’s schedule before you go.
More Family Trips on Yans World
- Gongju Baekje Cultural Festival with Kids: A Two-Day Route Through UNESCO Sites
- Seocheon Heritage Night Tour with Kids: Hansan Fortress by Lantern Light
- Hangeul Day 2026 With Kids: 5 Places to Celebrate the Korean Alphabet in Seoul, Incheon and Yeoju
Schedules and prices can change, so check the VISITKOREA official tourism site before you go.